Ceramics

The Ceramics program is taught in the recently constructed Arts Annex Addition. The Ceramics facility was designed to accommodate a variety of ceramic making techniques including wheel throwing and hand building. The facility provides interior studio space and an outdoor kiln yard with electric and gas fired kilns. The studio was designed to address health and safety concerns, and to facilitate the processes involved in making ceramic work.

During the academic year, courses are offered in Wheel Throwing and Hand Building. Students are introduced to the process of making ceramics beginning with clay body composition through procedures for firing kilns and glazing techniques and formulas.

ART 211 Ceramic Design (3)
Prerequisite: ART 183 and ART 184. Design, construct and fire ceramic forms using several different approaches to hand building and firing. Receive general background in the history of ceramic arts, clays, glazes and methods of firing.

ART 212 Wheel Throwing (3)
Prerequisite: ART 183 and ART 184. Begin throwing on the potter's wheel. Learn techniques of centering, opening and raising clay into basic pottery forms.

ART 312 Wheel Throwing (3)
Prerequisite: ART 212. Learn to throw more challenging ceramic forms on the potter's wheel. Gain experience in the loading and firing of ceramic kilns. Repeatable, maximum of six credits.

ART 411 Ceramic Design (3)
Prerequisite: ART 211. Intermediate level design of hand built ceramic forms. An exploration of stoneware, raku and sodium vapor firing processes. Repeatable, maximum of six credits.

ART 415 Ceramic Studio (1-3)
Consent of instructor. Individualized or specialized study on specific topics in ceramics. Repeatable, maximum of nine credits.

ART 512 Wheel Throwing (3)
Prerequisite: ART 312 or equivalent. Develop an individual approach to wheel thrown ceramic forms at an advanced level. Exploration of various methods of ceramic decoration and firing. Repeatable, maximum of six credits.

ART 611 Ceramic Design (3)
Design and assembly of hand-built ceramic forms at an advanced level. An exploration of stoneware, raku and sodium vapor firing processes. Repeatable, maximum of six credits.

ART 615 Ceramic Studio (1-3)
Consent of instructor required. Individualized or specialized study on specific topics in ceramics. Repeatable, maximum of nine credits.

Students in the Ceramics program have formed a Clay Club, sponsored by the Student Representative Council.  The Clay Club organizes and sponsors sales of student ceramic work at the end of fall and spring semesters.  For more information about the Clay Club, contact Mike Lemke at michael.lemke@arts.unco.edu